Kolkata: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Thursday arrested Kolkata Police Deputy Commissioner Santanu Sinha Biswas after hours of questioning in connection with an alleged land-grabbing, extortion and money laundering case linked to a suspected real-estate syndicate in West Bengal.
Officials said Biswas appeared before the central agency’s office at Salt Lake after repeatedly skipping earlier summons issued in the case. The ED had earlier issued a lookout circular against the senior police officer following concerns that he might evade the investigation.
According to investigators, Biswas’ name surfaced during the probe into alleged illegal land deals, extortion and financial irregularities linked to businessman Biswajit Poddar, alias “Sona Pappu”, who is accused in multiple criminal cases in Kolkata. The agency is also probing the alleged role of several businessmen and property-linked entities in the case.
An ED officer told reporters that the officer had finally appeared before investigators after several notices and extensive efforts to trace his whereabouts. Earlier, the agency had circulated alerts across airports and border check-posts to prevent him from leaving the country.
The probe agency suspects the existence of a wider network involving disputed land transactions, illegal construction activities and extortion operations in parts of Kolkata. Investigators are now examining financial transactions and alleged links between the accused individuals and certain influential figures.
Biswas, who earlier served as officer-in-charge of Kalighat Police Station, is expected to be produced before a special PMLA court following his arrest.